Hammerfest LNG plant . Photographer Harald Pettersen /© Equinor
Equinor awards EUR 736 million Hammerfest contract
Equinor has awarded Aibel an EPCI contract for modification work at the Hammerfest LNG facility on behalf of the Snøhvit Unit partners . The contract has a total value of approx . EUR 736 million ( NOK 8 billion ).
Text by Equinor
Based in Stavanger , Norway , Aibel builds and maintains platforms and other critical infrastructure for the energy industry . In February , it was awarded an EPCI contract that involves engineering , procurement , construction and installation of two new processing modules related to the onshore compression and electrification of the Melkøya plant in Hammerfest , Norway . They will also build a new receiving station for power from shore and carry out integration work at the plant . The contract is an option in the FEED contract ( front-end engineering and design ) awarded to Aibel in September 2020 . “ Aibel has been one of our main suppliers for Hammerfest LNG since the start-up in 2007 . They know the plant well , have set up a local department in Hammerfest , and have solid experience from other major modification projects on plants while on stream . I therefore have high expectations of them doing a good job safely . This contract will have major ripple effects locally , regionally and nationally ,” says Mette H . Ottøy , Equinor ’ s chief procurement officer .
Further contracts to be awarded Aibel will also carry out further upgrades of existing systems at Hammerfest LNG to make the plant more resilient for extended life until 2050 . This year and next , Aibel will award several major contracts to its subcontractors for work at the plant and will facilitate the use of local suppliers in several phases of the project , including construction . The engineering / design work starts immediately . Aibel will carry out large , complex modifications at Hammerfest LNG . They will also build larger modules at their yards and most of the work will be carried out in the period of 2024-2026 . The largest project at Melkøya since the plant came on stream Snøhvit Future will create significant ripple effects . It is expected that about 70 percent of the value creation will go to Norwegian companies , and more than a third of this to northern Norway . Regional employment during the project period is estimated at 1,680 person-years ( 5,400 person-years nationally ).
Reducing emissions The Snøhvit Future project consists of online compression and electrification of Hammerfest LNG at Melkøya . As the pressure drops in the reservoirs , compression is required to ensure sufficient flow of the gas to the plant . The project will extend plateau production and ensure high gas exports , jobs and
40 Stainless Steel World April 2023 www . stainless-steel-world . net